Specialist Palliative Care ConsultantNHS

Job summary

This post is for a new Consultant in Palliative Medicine. This is a new 10 session role, working alongside the current 0.6 FTE Clinical Lead for PEOLC in Whiston/MWL. The FT lead took partial retirement in February 2026 hence these the existing 6 session post.

It is a key leadership role with joint responsibility for the strategic and clinical care in MWL around PEOLC. The post holder will ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and patient centred specialist palliative care, while also contributing to clinical governance, education and service development. They will work in collaboration with the workforce in the other areas of MWL, and with the local Hospices and Community SPC Teams.

The post is wholly based within MWL with the contract held by Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Terms and Conditions are those of the NHS.

Applicants are required to hold Membership of the Royal College of Physicians or Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (UK or equivalent qualifications), to be fully registered with the General Medical Council, and to be on the Specialist Register for Palliative Medicine via CCT or CESR route, or due to obtain their CCT within six months of the date of interview.

Main duties of the job

This is a 10 PA Full time post. 1DCC = 4 hours and includes time allocated for clinical administration tasks.

Timetable of Fixed Sessions - subject to agreement with Hospital Chief Medical Officer and Clinical Director for Specialist Palliative Care

The job plan is indicative and management, leadership, educational and clinical responsibilities can vary week to week.

10 sessions - 7.5 DCC/ 2.5 SPA

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

AM

DCC

Clinical Handover

MDT Ward Round

Clinical Reviews

DCC

Clinical Handover

Clinical reviews

DCC

Clinical Handover

MDT

Ward Round

Clinical Reviews

DCC

Clinical Handover

Clinical reviews

0.5 DCC

Clinical Handover

MDT

Clinical Reviews

0.5 SPA

PM

DCC

Outpatient Clinic (Face to face and Telephone

DCC

Outpatient Clinic (Face to face and Telephone

SPA 1.0

(including ES/CS supervision)

DCC

Outpatient Clinic (Face to face and Telephone

1.0 SPA

End of Life Steering Group(Monthly)

Job description

On Call

The job plan includes a 1:8 non-resident senior on call responsibility (weekday and weekend) which attracts an 5% availability supplement. This provides primarily telephone support to specialty grade doctors for the Hospice in-patient unit, and the Community and Hospital Services via the 24-Hour Advice Line. Should the post holder be required to attend any site they will be compensated with time off in lieu.

The locality is seeking to increase the number of consultants for community and hospital services, and this may result in a reduction in on call frequency. This will be subject to a consultation

It is a requirement of the post that holders comply with Trust policies and procedures, have (and maintain) GMC registration / licensing and participate in a formal CPD programme (The Trust supports the requirements for Continuing Medical Education as laid down by the Royal College of Physicians and is committed to providing time and financial support for these activities). The post-holders must also participate in regular medical audit and in annual appraisal and job planning with the Clinical Director or one of the other qualified appraisers within the Trust. The Hospice will contribute to appraisal through feedback from the Chief Executive and Medical Director.

The Trust supports doctors going through the revalidation process and access to the RCP online CPD scheme.

The Trust has a policy to support access to mentorship

Please find attached Job Description and Person Specification for main responsibilities and role requirements.

About us

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

Our services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme.

You will be expected to undertake the Trusts' commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.